Compressed air operated dispenser with mechanical force multiplying means

ABSTRACT

A compressed air actuated dispensing device has a valve assembly having a valve body with a compressed air flow path therethrough and a valve member movable in the valve body and obturating the compressed air flow path. Aspirating means is provided at one end of the compressed air flow path and a product containing means in the device feeds product through a product flow path to the aspirating means. A piston-cylinder means is provided around the other end of the compressed air flow path, and a mechanical force multiplying means having an actuating member projecting out of the device is engaged with the piston for compressing air, the piston engaging the valve member for opening the compressed air flow path only after air in the piston-cylinder means has been compressed.

United States Patent 1191 Thornton et al.

COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSER WITH MECHANICAL FORCE MULTIPLYINGMEANS Inventors: Marvin L. Thornton, Brookfield,

Conn.; Pasquale R. Riccio, Salem, NH.

Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Ardsley,

Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 331,878

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 240,725,April 3, 1972, abandoned.

us. c1 222/193, 222/378, 222/401,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Jan. 29, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 623,404 5/1949 Great Britain 239/355 491,367 8/1938 GreatBritain 239/355 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves AssistantExaminer-Larry Martin Attorney, Agent, or Firm- E. F. Wenderoth et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A compressed air actuated dispensing device has a valveassembly having a valve body with a compressed air flow paththerethrough and a valve member movable in the valve body and obturatingthe compressed air flow path. Aspirating means is provided at one end ofthe compressed air flow path and a product containing means in thedevice feeds product through a product flow path to the aspiratingmeans. A pistoncylinder means is provided around the other end of thecompressed air flow path, and a mechanical force multiplying meanshaving an actuating member projecting out of the device is engaged withthe piston for compressing air, the piston engaging the valve membet foropening the. compressed air flow path only 7 Claims, 7 Drawing FiguresPATENIEU JAN 2 9 I974 SHEEI 2 BF 2 FIG.6

'FIG] FIG.3

llullllllll IIIIIIII FIG.4

COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSER WITH MECHANICAL FORCE MULTIPLYINGMEANS PRIOR ART There has recently been developed a type of dispenserfor fluids which utilizes compressed air for dispensing fluids in theform of a spray. This dispenser gradually builds up the pressure of air,and when a predetermined pressure has been reached, the compressed airis released suddenly for aspirating the fluid product as a spray.

There are many advantages to such a dispenser,

among which are the fact that a conventional aerosol type propellant,such'as Freon, is unnecessary, whereby possible harm to users of thedispenser due to inhalation of the Freon propellant after it has beenusedto dispense the fluid is avoided. A further advantage is that suchdispensers have a shelf-life limitedonly by the shelf-life of the fluidproduct to be dispensed, since the air used to. dispense the product iscompressed by the user of the dispenser for each dispensing action. Suchdispensers are disclosed in copending applications Ser. No. 44,694, nowU. S. Pat. No. 3,672,345, and Ser. No. 90,897, Nov. 11, 1970; 139,027,Apr. 30, 1971, and others.

In all of the various forms of the device as disclosed in the previouslyfiled applications, the piston means for compressing the air movesaxially of the elongated body of the device, or alternatively theelongated body moves axially of the piston means; and the pressure isdirectly exerted on the piston means and the elongated body. While thisis satisfactory for many users, it would be desirable forsomeapplications to have a large pressure exerted to actuate the device.With the present devices this would be difficult because pressure isapplied directly by the fingers to the piston. Moreover, it can alsooccur that the particular product to be dispensed by the device requiresthe device to be held in such a position that it is awkward for the userto exert pressure on the parts of the device. For example, when thedispensin g nozzle for dispensing the spray opens out of the end of thedevice, that end cannot have a finger or thumb placed thereover to exertaxial pressure on the device.

Technical progress in the art would be achieved if a form of the deviceof the type described above could be developed in which the forceexerted by the fingers to compress the air could be multiplied andyet'could be exerted in a direction which is more natural for thefingers of the user.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the inventionis to provide an improved fluid product dispenser of the type describedabove which has a finger actuated force multiplying means operativelyassociated with the piston means for making actuation of the pistonmeans easier.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedfluid product dispenser of the type described above which has the fingeractuated means movable in a direction transverse to the axis of theelongated body of the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved fluidproduct dispenser of the type described above in which the fingeractuated means can be actuated by either a single finger or a pluralityof fingers of the user.

These objects are achieved by the provision of a fluid product dispensercomprising a valve assembly having an elongated valve body which has acompressed air flow path therethrough, a valve member movable in thevalue body and obturating the compressed air flow path, aspirating'means at one end of the compressed air flow path, the other end of thecompressed air flow path opening out of the valve body remote from saidaspirating means, a product containing means in the device and a productflow path through the device from the product containing means to theaspirating means. A cylinder is attached to the end of the valve bodyover the said other end of the compressed air flow path, and a fingeractuated actuating bar is movable into the cylinder to operate forcemultiplying means which actuates the piston. Preferably the fingeractuated portion thereof is movable in a direction transverse to theaxis of the valve body. Resilient means is provided within the cylinderfor returning the piston and force multiplying means to theirinitialpositions. The piston engages the valve means after it has moved intothe cylinder sufficientlyfar to build up the pressure of the air withinthe cylinder in order to open the valve means to allow the compressedair to flow along the compressed air flow path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention will now be described ingreater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to theinvention with the parts in the rest or non-dispensing positions;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional 'view taken on line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of a part of the device;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the parts in the dispensingpositions;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the device; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The device as shown in the figurescomprises an elongated body I, and projecting out of the rear portionthereof is an acuating bar 4 which is movable into and out of theelongated body 1 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Within the body 1 is one arrangement of a valve means, aspirating means,product supply means and piston means which can be actuated by theactuating bar. The arrangement comprises a valve body 5, shown in detailin FIG. 4, having a longitudinally extending passage 6 therein whichopens out of the bottom of the valve body in an enlarged recess 7. Theother end of the valve body 5 has a further recess 8 therein. Aspiratingmeans in the form of a Venturi nozzle insert 9 has a smaller diameterportion 9a positioned in the recess 8 and extending forwardly of the endof valve body 5. A web 19 integrally formed on the inside of bodyportion 1 has a central aperture therein into which the larger portion9b of the Venturi nozzle is tightly fitted. The space around theextending portion of the smaller diameter portion 9a defined between theweb 19 and the extending portion constitutes a product supply cham# ber10 around the nozzle insert. The passage 6 forms a compressed air paththrough the body 1 from the recess 7 to the recess 8.

The bottom of the valve body 5 fits into a recess in an apertured frontwall 22 against an apertured valve seat member 11 in the bottom of therecess, and within the recess 7 over the valve seat member is a poppetvalve member 12 which is urged toward the valve seat member 11 by areturn spring 14 positioned in the recess 7.

The front end of the valve body 5 has a plate 16 therein having fluidproduct flow apertures 17 therein the portions of the disc between theapertures 17 forming spokes which support the rim of plate 16. The rimfits tightly against the inside of the wall of body portion 1. The wallof body portion 1 and the valve body 5 define between them a productcontaining space 18 from which fluid product flows through apertures 17to the product supply chamber 10. The fluid product flow apertures 17are obturated by a flat annular gasket 10a which has the outer peripheryheld tightly between plate 16 and web 19 and in its normal conditionfits tightly against the front face of plate 16 and seals apertures 17.The inner edge of the gasket 10 is is free to flex forwardly into theproduct supply chamber.

The space 24 within the body 1 beyond the front wall constitutes acylinder, and within the space 24 is a piston 25 which is slidablealongthe cylinder. A poppet valve actuating pin is provided on piston which,when the piston is in the full compression position, as in FIG. 5, islong enough to lift the poppet valve 12 from seat 11. The piston 25 hasan O-ring seal 26 therearound to prevent leakage of air past the pistonwhen the piston is moving in the compression direction. A piston returnspring 27 is positioned between the piston and the front wall 22, andserves the double function of retaining the front wall 22 in positionand returning the piston 25 to its initial position after a compressionmovement.

Air return means is provided in the piston 25. The piston has passages28 therethrough which are covered on the side toward the valve member 12by a flap valve in the form of a flexible disc 29 which is fitted aroundthe poppet valve actuating pin 15 and held in a groove around the baseof the pin 15. When the piston moves in the compression direction, tothe left in FIGS. 1 and 3, the disc 29 is pressed tightly over thepassages 28, so that air being compressed does not escape. When thepiston 25 moves toward the initial position, to the right in FIGS. 1 and3, air flows through the passages 28 and lifts the disc so that the aircan flow into the cylinder 24 to relieve the vacuum therein.

It will be understood that the above described arrangement is in mostways very similar to the valve means, aspirating means, product supplymeans and piston-cylinder means disclosed in the applications mentioned.Other arrangements as disclosed in those applications could besubstituted for the arrangement described within the scope of theinvention.

Force multiplying means is provided for actuating the piston 25 in thecompression direction. The elongated body 1 on the side of the piston 25opposite the valve means has an aperture 30 therein opening out of body1 transverse to the direction of elongation thereof and in which ismounted the bar 4. The actuating bar has a laterally extending flange 31around the inner edge thereof extending laterally of the actuating barand the main part of the bar is freely movable through the aperture 30,while the flange 31 engages under the edge of the aperture 30 to keepthe bar from falling out of the body 1. A lever retaining member 32depends from the actuating bar 4 and has an aperture 32a therethrough.An actuating lever 36 is pivotally mounted on one end of a link 37, theother end of the link 37 being pivotally mounted on a mounting member33, the lever mounting member being mounted member being mounted on asupport 34 in the interior of the body 1 on the opposite side of thepiston from the valve means. The link 37 is inclined forwardly towardthe piston 25 in the normal or non-dispersing position. One arm 36a ofthe lever 36 extends through the aperture 32a in the lever retainingmember, while the other arm 36b is engaged in a groove 39 in the back ofthe piston 25. In the embodiment shown, the arm 36b of the lever 36 isbent downwardly and then forwardly toward the piston 25. However, otherconfigurations are possible. The shape of the lever, the relativelengths of the arms, the length of the link 37, the position of thepivot point must be such that when the actuating bar 4 reaches itsinnermost position, the valve actuating pin 15 on the piston 25 willengage and open the valve 12. Further, in order to obtain sufiicientmechanical advantage to make the piston easy to move, the arm 36a shouldbe significantly longer than the effective length of the arm 26b.

The end of the body 1 is closed by a cap 3 which is force fitted orwelded into place. This is provided in order to make it possible toinsert the assembly comprised of the support 34, the mounting member 33,the link 37 the lever 36 and the actuating bar 4 through the end of thebody 1.

In operation, the parts of the device are normally as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. When pressure is exerted on the actuating bar 4, it is forcedinto the space within the elongated body 1, pivoting lever 36 about thepivotal connection to link 37 and swinging link 37 forward and downwarddue to the initial forward inclination of the link 37, thus causinglever portion 36b to move piston 25 against the resistance of the spring27. The engagement of lever arm 36b in groove 39 causes the piston tomove without rotating within body 1. When the actuating bar reaches aposition in which the piston has been driven sufficiently far so thatthe air within the space 24 is compressed sufficiently to aspirate thedesired amount of product, the actuating pin 15, on the piston 25engages and opens the poppet valve, as shown in FIG. 3. The compressedair then flows through the passage 6 and through the nozzle insert 9.

As it flows through the Venturi in the nozzle insert, it

aspirates product from the product containing space 18 by reducing thepressure in product supply chamber 10 and causing the product in productcontaining space 18, which is at atmospheric pressure to flex the inneredge of gasket 10a into chamber 10. Product is then drawn into theventuri nozzle. It is preferred to tilt the device so that the rearportion is elevated. This insures that product will always press againstand escape past gaskets a.

When aspiration is complete, the pressure on the actuating bar isreleased, and the spring 27 urges the piston 25 away from the poppetvalve and pivots lever 36 and link 37 in the opposite direction, thusmoving the actuating bar out of the space within the elongated body 1.

'When the actuating bar 4 is being pressed inwardly, the air returnmeans preventsair within the space 24 from escaping. However, when thepressure on the actuating bar is released, the air return means allowsair to enter the space 24 to relieve the vacuum.

The gasket 10a closes sufficiently slowly to allow air to bleed backinto product containing sapce 18. Alternatively separate vacuumrelieving means can be provided.

It will be seen that the position of the actuating bar is such that itis easy for the user of the device to simply I wrap his hand around theelongated body 1 and bring the fingers to bear on the actuating bar.Simply squeezing the device will depress the actuating bar. It is easyand convenient for theuser to place the mouthpiece extension in hismouth with the hand wrapped around the device. This eliminates theawkward manipulation which would be necessary if pressure had to beexerted by the thumb against the end of the device while one end of itis in the mouth. The lever and link acts to multiply the force exertedon the actuating bar to make operation of the actuating bar easy.

It should be understood that while a specific form 0 the valve body 5,nozzle insert 9, product supply space 18, etc. have been described, thisform can be altered to any of the forms shown in the copendingapplications described hereinbefore, or to any other convenient form,without departing from the scope of the invention. The actuating bararrangement can be used with any of the other arrangements of valvebody, nozzle insert, etc.. Moreover, while a specific piston and airreturn means has been shown and described, other equivalent means can besubstituted. For example, actuating pin 15 can be provided-on the pistoninstead of the poppet valve.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing device comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body,said valve body having a compressed air flow path therethrough; a valvemember movable in said valve body and obturating said compressed airflow path; aspirating means at one end of the said compressed air flowpath, the other end of the compressed air path opening out of the valvebody remote from said aspirating means; a product containing means insaid device and said device having a product flow path therethrough fromsaid product containing means to said aspirating means; a hollowelongated body having one end around the other end of the compressed airflow path, a piston means movable within said elongated body toward saidvalve body and being engageable with said valve member for moving saidvalve member to open said valve member; spring means in said elongatedbody urging said piston away from said valve body; and force multiplyingmeans in said elongated body on the opposite side of said piston fromsaid valve body and having an actuating member projecting out of saidelongated body, said force multiplying means being engaged with saidpiston for moving said piston toward said valve body when said actuatingmember is actuated, whereby said piston engages said valve member foropening said compressed air flow path only after air between said pistonand said valve body has been compressed.

2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 whereby said forcemultiplying means comprises a lever pivotally mounted within saidelongated body and having one end engaged with said piston and the otherend coupled to said actuating member.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said forcemultiplying means further comprises a link pivotally mounted on thebottom of hollow elongated body and normally inclined toward saidpiston, said lever being pivotally mounted on the free end of said link.I

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuatingmember comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has anopening opening out of the body in a direction transverse to theelongation thereof,

said actuating bar projecting out of said opening and being coupled tothe other end of said lever.

5. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 in which the face of saidpiston toward said lever has a groove therein, said one end of saidlever being engaged in said groove for causing said piston to slidewithout rotating within said body.

6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 in which said actuatingmember has a lever retaining member depending therefrom into said body,said lever retaining member having an aperture therein through whichsaid other end of said lever is engaged with said actuating member.

7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuatingmember comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has anopening opening out of the body in a direction transverse to theelongation thereof,

said actuating bar projecting out of said opening andv ing means.

1. A dispensing device comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body,said valve body having a compressed air flow path therethrough; a valvemember movable in said valve body and obturating said compressed airflow path; aspirating means at one end of the said compressed air flowpath, the other end of the compressed air path opening out of the valvebody remote from said aspirating means; a product containing means insaid device and said device having a product flow path therethrough fromsaid product containing means to said aspirating means; a hollowelongated body having one end around the other end of the compressed airflow path, a piston means movable within said elongated body toward saidvalve body and being engageable with said valve member for moving saidvalve member to open said valve member; spring means in said elongatedbody urging said piston away from said valve body; and force multiplyingmeans in said elongated body on the opposite side of said piston fromsaid valve body and having an actuating member projecting out of saidelongated body, said force multiplying means being engaged with saidpiston for moving said piston toward said valve body when said actuatingmember is actuated, whereby said piston engages said valve member foropening said compressed air flow path only after air between said pistonand said valve body has been compressed.
 2. A dispensing device asclaimed in claim 1 whereby said force multiplying means comprises alever pivotally mounted within said elongated body and having one endengaged with said piston and the other end coupled to said actuatingmember.
 3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said forcemultiplying means further comprises a link pivotally mounted on thebottom of hollow elongated body and normally inclined toward saidpiston, said lever being pivotally mounted on the free end of said link.4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuatingmember comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has anopening opening out of the body in a direction transverse to theelongation thereof, said actuating bar projecting out of said openingand being coupled to the other end of said lever.
 5. A dispensing deviceas claimed in claim 2 in which the face of said piston toward said leverhas a groove therein, said one end of said lever being engaged in saidgroove for causing said piston to slide without rotating within saidbody.
 6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 in which saidactuating member has a lever retaining member depending therefrom intosaid body, said lever retaining member having an aperture thereinthrough which said other end of said lever is engaged with saidactuating member.
 7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid actuating member comprises an actuating bar, and said elongatedbody has an opening opening out of the body in a direCtion transverse tothe elongation thereof, said actuating bar projecting out of saidopening and being coupled to the remainder of said force multiplyingmeans.